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City to Host Public Meetings on 1st Street Conversion

[Duluth, MN] Two virtual public meetings to be held on May 27^th and May 28^th at 4:30 p.m. regarding the potential conversion of First Street from 1-Way to 2-Way traffic flow.

• The Wednesday, May 27^th online seminar will address the easternmost segment from 24^th Avenue East to 3^rd Avenue East: https://duluthmn.webex.com/duluthmn/onstage/KrisLiljeblad Event No. 471 170 542 (password 6224).
• The May 28th online seminar will cover the Downtown segment from 3^rd Avenue East to Mesaba Avenue, at the same internet address, Event No. 479 984 429 (password 6224).

The City of Duluth has completed a consultant study to convert the currently multi-directional First Street traffic to consistent 2-way traffic from Mesaba Avenue to 24^th Avenue East. The consultant is now finalizing engineering plans to complete the change this year. Currently, the direction of traffic flow on First Street changes from 1-way to 2-way at four locations:  6^th Avenue West, 3^rd Avenue East, 12^th Avenue East, and 24^th Avenue East.  This is confusing and dangerous for motorists and makes east-west travel more difficult in both Downtown and the Medical District, especially when construction or emergency closures disrupt traffic flow on parallel streets.

The benefits of the project are: 1) More direct access to Downtown and the Medical District and better circulation between them; 2) Reduced travel speeds of 5 to 10 mph; 3) Improved pedestrian safety due to reduced speed; and 4) Greater flexibility for east-west circulation. Reduced delay time will also result from traffic control changes.

Making sure that Downtown Duluth businesses will be able to load and unload needed goods and services is an important priority.  The Duluth Police Department consulted adjacent businesses about their needs and is recommending six modified truck-only loading zones located between 5^th Avenue West and 3^rd Avenue East. Other existing on-street parking configurations will remain mostly unchanged.

As part of the project, existing traffic signals will be replaced by stop signs at 1^st and 2^nd Avenues East, and at 4^th and 5^th Avenues West. This will reduce delay time for motorists and pedestrians.

Further information about the project is available on the City of Duluth website www.duluthmn.gov/engineering/current-projects/1st-Street-Study/.

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